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No longer is GOP fretting focused on the prospect of Tropical Storm Isaac striking Tampa and blowing up party’s plans to crown Mitt Romney as its nominee. There’s still the possibility of logistical disruptions, but an epic meteorological mess doesn’t appear to be in the offing here.

Instead, party officials and convention planners are increasingly anxious about a different and possibly more damaging scenario: a split-screen broadcast of Republicans partying in Tampa alongside images of serious storm damage in states such as Louisiana and Mississippi.

Some Republicans here worry the juxtaposition of events could revive memories of the disastrous 2005 storms — Hurricanes Katrina and Rita — and the government’s terrible handling of them.

Public outrage over the George W. Bush administration’s response to those catastrophes — Katrina especially — shadowed the president and the GOP for years. For Republicans, Katrina is their version of the Carter administration’s failed Iranian hostage rescue in 1980 — an enduring symbol of collective incompetence, a political wound that will not heal.

For the 2012 convention to move ahead amid another Gulf Coast disaster could make Romney and his supporters look oblivious to the plight of the victims — or at the very least, leave them competing for media attention for a full week with a disaster response effort.

Isaac is not expected to create Katrina’s extreme level of havoc. But Republicans are bracing for the political impact anyway, and have not ruled out the possibility of cancelling or revising the remaining three days of the convention.

Former Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, who led his state through Katrina, said he believes the convention will still be a “springboard for Romney and Ryan,” but acknowledged that the storm could force additional changes to the schedule.

“My governor is home in Mississippi where he’s supposed to be, getting ready, and I think that’s true about the other Gulf State governors,” Barbour said at a poll briefing here for the group Resurgent Republic. “Everybody here has got one eye on this storm.”

Barbour said, on a fatalistic note: “There’s one thing you can predict about hurricanes: they’re unpredictable.”

In an interview with ABC News, House Speaker John Boehner invoked Katrina by name to express dismay at the approaching storm: “After what [the Gulf states have] been through with Katrina, to have another big hurricane come there, it’s a cause for concern.”

Family Research Council head Tony Perkins, a former Louisiana legislator, told POLITICO in a phone call from his home state that he doesn’t know “there’s anything the RNC can do differently” until it’s clear how strong Isaac will grow.

“Obviously if it were a storm of the Katrina capacity, then it would change the focus of the RNC. The only way to really avoid this is if they have the convention in December or out of hurricane season,” Perkins said. “It’s unfortunate, because it’s certainly going to put a damper on the enthusiasm for the convention, especially those in the affected areas. They’re going to have their eye on the Weather Channel and not on the convention.”

And one Republican involved in responding to the storm went so far as to call it “the first crisis of the putative Romney presidency.”

“How does he handle this? How does he balance the political needs of the convention versus what may appear to be the needs of the country?” the operative asked. “The worst he can be right now is self-interested or overly political.”

In private conversations, a number of Republicans with ties to Romney’s campaign sounded more frustrated, grumbling at the constant speculation that the convention could disintegrate under the weight of the weather. They have had to bat down a seemingly endless series of rumors about the fate of the party conclave, including suggestions that the convention could be extended into Friday or cancelled altogether.

But former GOP presidential nominee John McCain also set a high bar for sensitivity in situations like this one. In 2008 — just three years after Katrina devastated New Orleans — McCain canceled the first day of his convention in St. Paul out of respect for the victims of another storm, Hurricane Gustav, which didn’t event touch down in Minnesota but wreaked damage in along the Gulf Coast.

The people of the gulf must take comfort in the fact that it won't be that idiot George Dubya that they may have to rely on. If the people in the gulf do need help, President Obama will provide the leadership needed to take care of folks down there.

Who gives a damn about the Republican's PR show in Tampa. Tens of thousands are looking down the barrel at a Category 1 or 2 hurricane coming at them. The Republican dog and pony show is totally irrelevant to any feeling American. My prayers are with the citizens of the Gulf coast, not the clown show in Tampa.

Absolute BS. Besides, Obama can make the waters recede. He said so. Don't worry, New Orleans. Obama's got your back. The pumps will miraculously start pumping 3 inches of rain an hour, instead of the one inch per hour they're designed for. It'll be okay. And, your check is in the mail as I speak.

According to the House Appropriation Committee’s summary of the bill, the [GOP's 2011 continuing resolution] funds Operations, Research and Facilities for the National Oceanic Atmospheric Association with $454.3 million less than it got in FY2010; this represents a $450.3 million cut from what the president’s never-passed FY2011 budget was requesting. The National Weather Service, of course, is part of NOAA — its funding drops by $126 million. The CR also reduces funding for FEMA management by $24.3 million off of the FY2010 budget, and reduces that appropriation by $783.3 million for FEMA state and local programs.

They do it when tornados hit – Missouri. They do it when earthquakes hit – Virginia. They do it when hurricanes hit – Irene.

As we know, wealthy people have massive insurance, and even more money behind that. They can rebuild their lives with ease, while residing in comfort somewhere else. They can easily evacuate by simply taking another spontaneous vacation. Their help will remove their cherished belongings to a safe place.

George Dubya was a complete failure in the handling of Katrina. While people were dying in New Orleans, he was telling Brownie what a heck of a job he did. Mitt Romney would probably do just as bad. Thankfully we have President Obama to make decisions and help the people in the gulf if need be, not some flip flop idiot like Mittwit.